After 100th win this season, Jamie Kah’s shown she’s the greatest of all time

While racing circles were already aware of Jamie Kah’s greatness, her latest feat has rightfully cemented her place in the history books.

Jamie Kah won her 100th metropolitan race in a season at Caulfield. Picture: Tony Gough

The sporting world already knew Jamie Kah was a super star.

Now she is a history making queen of the turf as well.

An adoring Caulfield crowd on Saturday watched in delight as Kah became the first jockey in the history of Victorian racing to ride 100 metropolitan winners in a season.

Galloping to glory on the appropriately named $2.90 favourite “Deep Speed’’, Kah entered rare air by notching a triumphant tonne plenty had tried and failed to achieve.

As the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief, Kah did the same – admitting she had goose bumps when she crossed the line.

“It’s a big relief,’’ she said.

“It’s been a very, very long week.’’

If Michelle Payne broke the glass ceiling with her iconic Melbourne Cup win aboard 100/1 shot Prince of Penzance in 2015, Kah has shattered it, along with dated assumptions racing is a man’s world.

The crowds gathered at Caulfiield to see the feat. Picture: Tony Gough

Payne told the Herald Sun she was proud to see Kah “dominating” against men and writing her own script to ride like a girl.

“I think what she is doing is really game changing for the sport, for females going forward and female jockeys especially,’’ she said.

“Because it’s always been a battle of gaining the respect of men in our industry and she has set the bar for female jockeys coming through about what is possible.

“And her riding style and technique is something I’m sure a lot of the next generation of females coming through are going to look up to.’’

Seasoned punters and casual observers alike trackside at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday sang the praises of Kah as an athlete and role model.

Racegoer Tony Herring who brought his son James, 7, and daughter Lillie 5, to watch Kah do what no man or woman has done before said boys and girls should be looking up to her as an idol.

Star jockey Jamie Kah with her pony as a child. Picture: Supplied

“She’s the star in racing now so it’s great for kids to see that they can go and chase their dreams regardless of whether they are a boy or girl,’’ he said.

With seven rides on her card, Kah had plenty of chances to become the sole member of the 100 club on Saturday.

Having missed the opportunity to achieve the goal at Sandown on Wednesday however, she was taking no chances and told her family and friends to stay home.

“I didn’t want them to jinx me,’’ she said.

As an expectant crowd sipped champagne and slugged beers before noon, Kah initially looked like she might tick the task off her to do list in the first race.

Spectators crept as close to the rail as possible on a cold Melbourne morning under blue, sunny skies to get the best look they could at history in the making.

Kah had her mount, Viviane, in front early and stayed there until about the 200m mark, only to fade and finish fourth.

It was fitting the achievement came in Race 2, aboard “Deep Speed”, with Kah holding off a group of horses lunging at the line to salute in style.

Kah’s century making feat surpassed the previous record of 99.5 winners – which included a dead-heat — set by Brett Prebble in the 1999-2000 season.

Jamie Kah won the Dux of the Thoroughbred Racing in South Australia as a teen.

But she admitted the last 50m of the race felt like an eternity.

“I was hearing the crowd and getting goosebumps over the line,’’ she said.

“It was pretty special so thank you to everyone for coming.”

Proof of Kah’s standing was obvious in the betting ring.

Bookies made many of the horses she rode favourites, with punters probably plunging several to shorter odds simply because Kah was their pilot more than on form.

Pre-race, everyone from kids to old ladies leaning on walkers held “Go Jamie” and “Kah 100” signs with all eyes on the star female jockey who loves winning but no necessarily the spotlight.

The South Australian born and bred horse lover smiled for the cameras and waved to well wishes as she returned to the mounting yard, stoked to notch a special achievement.

She said Saturday’s Herald Sun front page, splashed with a photo of Kah and fellow female Aussie sporting hero Ash Barty would become a prized possession.

But she was still coming to terms with the fanfare.

“I’m not the one for crowds and people cheering my name, it’s very foreign to me still,’’ she said.

As Kah thundered to the winning post, the crowd which had risen in nervous excitement gasped as rivals threatened to spoil the party.

Jamie Kah as an apprentice.

Once she was first past the post though, Kah beamed with joy and the crowd roared with delight, continuing their applause as highlight’s of her stunning season were played on the big screen.

She rode another winner for good measure in race 6, guiding $2.20 favourite Red Santa to victory and said 101 sounded even better.

“I’m not one for publicity and the crowds but it’s a pretty cool feeling,” she said.

“We haven’t heard that roar from the crowd for a while.”

Racing Victoria chairman, Brian Kruger said the milestone by “a humble champion and wonderful ambassador’’ was special.

“We are truly blessed to have witnessed the feats of some incredible jockeys here in Victoria throughout history and for Jamie to tread where no other has is something that she should be incredibly proud of,’’ he said.

“The greatest part of Jamie’s achievement is the manner in which she has gone about it through hard work, dedication and a willingness to challenge herself to be the best she can be.’’

Payne said Kah was “the full package, a beautiful horsewoman who connects with nearly every horse she gets on’’.

“She’s got it all,’’ she said.

And while Payne can boast Melbourne Cup glory as her own historic bragging rights against Kah, she said the new queen of Australian racing was “so good’’ she could one day win that too.

“You know what – she might,’’ she said.

[e-mail]

@rolfep